No fewer than 450, 000 registered farmers in Kano State have benefitted from the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) during this year’s farming season.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Baraka Sani said this while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Kano on the preparations for the forthcoming 2013 Kano State Agricultural Show.

NAN reports that the event would be held in Bagauda, Babeji Local Government Area between Nov.1 and Nov.3 to showcase the agricultural potentialities of the state.

The Theme for this year’s show is: “Agricultural Development in Kano State: A Promise Fulfilled.”

She said the state government had committed more than N1.7 billion as 25 per cent subsidy on the total cost of inputs received by the farmers across the state.

“This is the reason why Kano state was declared the best state in GES livestock value chain by the Federal Government,” she said.

The commissioner disclosed plans by the state and the federal government to upgrade the Fisheries Institute in the state to serve as a training centre in fish production for 10 northern states.

“The state is also partnering with Leventis Foundation, Dangote Group of Companies, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure rapid agricultural development in the state.

“Such collaboration resulted in the establishment of a Tomato Processing Company at Kadawa by Dangote Group and establishment of a staple crops processing zone by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture,” Sani. (NAN)